By KHT Staff. Image shows the possible site for the Tainan Mini Dome.
TAINAN — Tainan City (台南市) is preparing to relaunch — or more accurately “re-relaunch” — its long-delayed “Mini Dome” (小巨蛋) project, after the most recent tender failed to attract any bidders.
The project, planned for Dong District (東區) along Shengchan Road (生產路), has been under discussion for more than 16 years, reports the China Times, but has yet to move beyond the planning stage. A 2025 tender, with an estimated investment of just over NT$23 billion, drew no bids, prompting the city to reassess its approach.
Officials now say the revised plan will scale down the project, including reducing seating capacity from the originally proposed 20,000 seats and adjusting the overall size to better match market demand.
The project is structured as a build-operate-transfer (BOT) development, though details — including post-construction ownership and operating arrangements — remain under review.
Tainan officials said they are gathering industry feedback and studying similar projects in other cities before reissuing the tender in early April. The tender will remain open for a period of three months.
Vice Mayor Chao Ching-hui (趙卿惠) stated that Tainan currently lacks a large-scale indoor venue capable of hosting major sporting events or concerts, noting that a smaller, more flexible facility could help support economic activity without overextending the market.
